Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today Muslim-rebel leader Nur Misuari could be sent to a third country if the Philippine government refuses to take him back.

He said that the Malaysian government has decided to send Misuari back to the Philippines and that Manila had also made preparations to receive him.

"However, if Manila changes its decision, there is a possibility we will send him to other countries," he said during a press conference at the Internal Affairs Department in Putrajaya.

Abdullah added Malaysia would not be pressurising any country into giving political asylum to Misuari.

Nevertheless, the deputy prime minister said that the government hoped Manila would not change its decision in taking Misuari back.

On Friday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Misuari, who is being detained in Sabah, would be sent "overseas" as soon as possible.

He added that the government would look into "all possibilities and latest developments" before allowing Misuari to leave Malaysia.

The premier however did not say as to when and where Misuari would be deported.

Phillippines fears trouble

Sixty-year-old Misuari, who is former governor of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, was arrested on Nov 24 with six of his followers off an island in Sabah after fleeing the southern Philippines following the crackdown against his rebellion against Manila.

Mahathir had earlier said that Malaysia would have to find alternatives ways to deal with the Muslim rebel leader if Manila did not want him back.

The Philippine government has been reluctant to allow Misuari's return to his native-land in Mindanao, fearing he could still cause trouble there.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Gloria Arroyo said on Friday that both governments were working on a schedule as to when Misuari can be deported.

"We are already preparing in the Philippines where to put him, how to arrest him, what charges to file. So we will be ready for Misuari at a mutually agreed upon period, which will not be long from now," AFP quoted Arroyo as saying at a news conference in Manila.

Political asylum

It has been reported that the Malaysian government was also under pressure from the Islamic International Conference(OIC) to deport Misuari to a third country.

OIC and Malaysia have been responsible in brokering a peace deal between the Philippine government and Misuari's Moro National Liberation Front in 1996.

Last Thursday, Misuari filed a petition for political asylum with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.